3 Things We Loved & 1 Thing We Disliked About The Finale Of "Dear Hyeri"

And just like that, our short journey with Eun Ho (Shin Hae Sun), Joo Yeon (Kang Hoon), Hye Ri, and Hyun Oh (Lee Jin Uk) has ended. Though the path was difficult, our main characters have finally been able to heal their trauma and start a new chapter of their lives.

From Eun Ho finding love and family to Joo Yeon’s happy ending, here are three things we liked and one thing we disliked about the finale of “Dear Hyeri.”

Warning: spoilers for episodes 11 and 12 ahead!

Liked: Eun Ho finally being happy

While some viewers might dislike Hyun Oh for his many flaws, it’s clear that Eun Ho isn’t over him—and might never be. You could line up a hundred Joo Yeons in front of her, and she’d still run toward the man who broke her heart multiple times. While it would have been wonderful to see her become her own person and find happiness without Hyun Oh, what really is happiness?

The definition varies for each person: for some, it’s financial stability, for others, good grades. For Eun Ho, “to be happy” means being with the person she loves. She can’t find happiness elsewhere if, to her, happiness is Hyun Oh.

Disliked: Joo Yeon treated as comic relief

Considering the amount of pain Joo Yeon goes through, audiences hoped the creators and characters of “Dear Hyeri” would show this beloved second lead more compassion. Although Eun Ho, to an extent, tries to make their separation as painless as possible, both Hyun Oh and the show’s creators use Joo Yeon as comic relief in a way that feels downright disrespectful.

In episode 11, Eun Ho promises Joo Yeon a meaningful breakup. Instead of immediately cutting contact, they go on a date and talk about their feelings one last time, aiming for closure. The date goes well, and in the end, Joo Yeon, holding Eun Ho’s hand, pours his heart out while she smiles, indicating she’s not uncomfortable. However, Hyun Oh suddenly appears, slaps Joo Yeon’s hand, and tells him to go back to work. The background music, oddly comical, clashes with the gravity of Joo Yeon watching Eun Ho and Hyun Oh walk away hand-in-hand, leaving fans rooting for Joo Yeon to feel slapped in the face.

In episode 12, Eun Ho organizes a farewell for Hye Ri—her second personality, not her late sister. This event, however unnecessary, offers Joo Yeon another opportunity to express himself. But once again, Hyun Oh interrupts, preventing Joo Yeon from saying his final words to Hye Ri. Despite Joo Yeon’s clear distress, the same comical music tries to make the scene humorous.

In a show about mental illness, why isn’t Joo Yeon shown the same compassion? Is his pain and trauma not deserving of proper closure?

Liked: Min Yeong’s Love for Hye Ri

In both media and real life, friendship often seems ranked below romantic love. While it’s debatable whether platonic love should be above romantic love, it undoubtedly deserves equal recognition. A true friend can change your life and help you become the best version of yourself.

While Eun Ho has thanked Joo Yeon multiple times for caring for Hye Ri in previous episodes, Min Yeong (Oh Gyeong Hwa), Hye Ri’s colleague from her parking lot job, is often overlooked. She consistently made Hye Ri smile and kept her from feeling alone during late shifts from four in the afternoon to four in the morning.

Fortunately, Min Yeong finally gets her moment in the spotlight for being a good friend. Though she initially appears indifferent to Hye Ri’s disappearance, she later admits she doesn’t want to say goodbye to Hye Ri as that would mean breaking their friendship. While Eun Ho can’t give Min Yeong her friend Hye Ri back, she can offer herself as a new friend, who hopefully will stay in Min Yeong’s life for a long time.

Liked: Joo Yeon’s happy ending

Though unpopular with many fans, Joo Yeon’s ending is as perfect as it could have been.

First, he got to spend a meaningful date with Eun Ho/Hye Ri, expressing his feelings, even though it was cut short by Hyun Oh. Those three hours with Eun Ho can never be taken from him.

Second, Joo Yeon finally opens up to his mother about his brother’s death. While Joo Yeon wasn’t at fault, his apology and vow to avoid the same mistakes in another life seem to bring his mother some comfort. This might indicate that her mental health could improve, allowing Joo Yeon to have a better relationship with her.

Finally, Joo Yeon opens his heart to Hye Yoon (Jo Hye Joo), his supportive junior who has shown interest in him from the start. For fans who shipped Joo Yeon and Hye Ri, it might be hard to see him moving on, but it’s a far better outcome than him remaining heartbroken in the finale.

As a drama about mental health and DID, “Dear Hyeri” held high expectations. While the show was entertaining from start to finish, it fell short as a portrayal of mental illness in media. Depression and DID are real conditions that change brain chemistry. Though support and love can aid in recovery, no one can be instantly cured just because they got back together with their ex. But “Dear Hyeri” centers on Eun Ho’s journey to find happiness, and in the end, she succeeds in finding the love, happiness, and family she always longed for.

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Hello Soompiers! What are your thoughts about the finale episode? Are you satisfied with the ending? Let us know in the comment section below!

Javeria is a binge-watching specialist who loves devouring entire K-dramas in one sitting. Good screenwriting, beautiful cinematography, and a lack of cliches are the way to her heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to multiple artists across different genres and stans the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You can talk to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.

Currently watching: “Family by Choice.”
Looking forward to: “Brewing Love,” “Squid Game Season 2,” “Good Boy,” and “Reborn.”